The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne is a story of universal and highly relatable themes. The characters persecution and redemption draw us into a world of austere artifice where real human impulses are hidden away under masks of propriety that characterized early colonial America. In terms of design, this time and society were characterized by modesty that not only stemmed from the church, but from the lawmakers themselves. Therefore, the fabrics that one could wear were literally restricted to certain classes. These strict rules make Hester’s scarlet ‘A’ all the more shocking as red dye in the 1600’s was a rare and costly luxury. Set against a background of gray, brown and black, it is easy to understand how “the scarlet letter” on her bodice would seem to ‘burn’.
As a Costume Designer, it is my job to illustrate the time and social station of the people of the play. Creating a definitive period silhouette and supporting it with appropriate details will bring period dramas to life. After digesting the script, my process invariably turns to period research first. This informs my drawings of the appropriate style lines and colors. From there, I infer artistic ideas on how best to serve the script and the
actors.
-Erik Teague, Costume Designer
Chillingworth Rendering (Above)
Dimmesdale Rendering (Above)
Hester Rendering (Above)
Pearl Rendering (Above)
All renderings by Erik Teague, Costume Designer for The Scarlet Letter
For more information about New Rep On Tour's production of The Scarlet Letter visit www.newrep.org/ontour.php
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